link Facebook May Hire Robert Gibbs, Former Obama Aide – NYTimes.com.
There may be the odd person who has been in a coma for the past 3 years that doesn’t know who Robert Gibbs is. He was until recently, the official White House communications director charged with explaining policy to the press in daily briefings. Of course, explaining and making sense of White House policy was challenging enough given what he had to work with every day. Sort of like explaining current events through interpretive dance. Some say he did a commendable job, for the most part keeping a straight face while offering the most fanciful versions of events to the assembled reporters. The only giveaway was the over worked use of the “uh” mannerism, which over time came to be associated with Gibbs as much as handcuffs did with Lindsay Lohan.
You have to admire his willingness to take on challenges, because in a previous role, he was in charge of John Kerry’s campaign communications. Remember John Kerry? He of the “I was for the war before I was against it” Kerry? Gibbs is actually a career spokesman, having assumed that role for numerous Democratic contenders over the years. That being the case, you would expect a little more polish in his delivery as he became more adept at spinning. It’s not for me to criticize someone who has to make molehills out of mountains, but let’s just say by the end of his tenure we’d expect more Leno and less Pee Wee Herman.
Very amusing then, to find that Gibbs is rumored to be courted by Facebook, that juggernaut of social media communications, to advise on their activities in advance of a public offering. Like George Bush when he was in office trying to explain something, Gibbs not only had words fail him, they were seen headed on planes out of the country. You can almost imagine that Gibbs got away with lots of naughty things as a child because his parents couldn’t bear to hear the explanations. Despite all of this, his talents appear to be of great value to Facebook as they build the depth of their management team. Of course, Facebook is a texting medium, not an audio medium, so maybe Gibbs’ talents will really shine there. Unlike his previous gigs however, he doesn’t have to explain away questionable policies, so his experience may be wasted. Still, if I were him, I would patent the “uh” abbreviation before it falls into popular use like LOL, or OMG. That alone could be worth millions.
Earth Hour | Twitter takes Earth Hour viral.
You have to give credit to the clever people who originally orchestrated this “World Event” some years ago. This is the ultimate expression of that social networking phenomenon called a flash mob. Flash mobs can be benign and amusing such as when strangers start spontaneously singing at a mall, or when people decide to go out without pants on New York’s subways. They can have genuine influence such as the credit given to social networking for the uprisings in Egypt and the middle east. It’s always important to catch the attention of a younger group of people, since only youth will do anything for the sole crazy reason of, it seemed like a good idea at the time. If you’re going to try to get a mob going, start it among youth, they love the group experience. Ever notice the green zealots? They all have that same unkempt hair, bearded chops look. Anyone who wants to be taken seriously in that movement, has to have the group green look. We’re not sure why.
At the root of the flash mob phenomenon is the fun, whimsical nature of the happening. The novelty and symbolism of the Earth Day event however has long passed it’s amusement factor and is instead merely kept alive by zealots who still cling to their misguided notions of how things work. Although the hardcore nuts have managed to cajole some ‘mainstream’ groups to sponsor observance of the day, as if not observing it makes you a social pariah, the declining participation year over year shows that like all things that amuse kids, the novelty has worn off. Earth Day is the modern Tickle Me Elmo. The obvious exaggeration and fraud of global warming hasn’t helped the cause either.
Imagine if somebody were able to float the notion that humans were creating too much sewage. On this version of earth day, everyone would be cajoled into not going to the bathroom for an entire day. And to really encourage participation, all public washrooms would have locks placed on them. It could be a finable offense to sell someone a bran muffin. Something tells me this day of observance won’t make it to be annual event, at least not by those over 40 years of age. And therein lies the secret of all crazy movements. Get the kids involved first. Most older people know better and have a firmer grip on reality, or should. It’s no coincidence that the big push for hysterical issues such as global warming occurs in the schools where impressionable kids have no means of assessing validity. “Daddy, don’t you want to save the earth?” is the plea from innocent 6 year olds. So the parents play along the same way they place a plate of cookies and milk in the living room on Christmas eve.
Eventually, the kids grow up and the realization of misguided idealism hits them. They figure out that walking around in the dark with kerosene lamps, a candle, or just glow bugs in a jar really isn’t practical. They’ll figure out that the invention of electricity, flush toilets and central heating are not just capitalist frivolities but real advances in civilization. They’ll figure out that the charm of bicycling to work in a rainstorm loses its charm in only one session. Most significantly, they’ll find that as larger chunks of their paycheques are confiscated for ill conceived and quixotic environmental causes, their support for zealous dictates will wane. Maybe thankfully, they’ll shave off those goofy beards.